Barclays, Credit Suisse Group, ING and Lloyds have settled their fines after conclusive investigations but it did not end there for foreign banks. Standard Chartered could have its state license stripped by U.S. regulators for hiding illegal dealings with Iran

Qatar National Hotels (QNH) will look to Europe and the United States for its next acquisition after the state-owned hotel group bought Raffles hotels in Paris and Singapore this year, its chairman said on Monday

Belgium-based SWIFT, which provides banks with a system for moving funds around the world, bowed to international pressure on Friday and said it was ready to block Iranian banks from using its network to transfer money.

President Barack Obama warned Iran on Tuesday the United States would keep up pressure on its disputed nuclear program with "no options off the table" but said the door remained open to talks for a peaceful resolution.